Paragon Policy Fellowship

What Paragon Policy Fellowship does

Paragon Policy Fellowship is a U.S. nonprofit, fiscally sponsored by the Federation of American Scientists, that operates a semester-based, fully remote fellowship placing university students and recent graduates on project teams with state and local governments. Founded in January 2024 by Kayla Huang and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the organization runs three-month cohorts (Spring, Summer, Fall) in which 5-7 member Fellow teams contribute 8-10 hours per week to applied research on AI governance, cybersecurity, data governance, broadband access, digital services, and adjacent policy areas. The program is unpaid for Fellows and free for governments; since launch it has placed 350+ Fellows from 100+ universities on 44 projects serving 28 government partners across 19 states and U.S. territories, contributing approximately 22,000 hours of technology policy research with 79% of Fellows identifying as underrepresented in technology and policy.

The organization does not build proprietary technology products. Its core "products" are policy deliverables (literature reviews, stakeholder analyses, risk assessments, framework recommendations) and a four-month mentorship program pairing Fellows with experienced tech policy professionals. Operational infrastructure is lean: a leadership team of one Executive Director (Annie Beckman) and six Directors (Policy Practice, Policy Education, Partnerships, Operations, Advancement, with an incoming Director of Partnerships), supported by coordinators across project management, research, partnerships, social media, news media, professional development, finance, and grant writing. Government partnerships are acquired through direct outreach via [email protected], with project proposals matched to Fellow teams; Fellow recruitment runs through website applications, Substack newsletter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Linktree, and information sessions, with 400+ applications received per cohort.

Revenue is donation- and grant-based, not transactional. The organization accepts individual donations through the Mazloweb donation platform and operates under FAS's 501(c)(3) status, with revenue figures not publicly disclosed. No venture capital, institutional investment, or acquisition activity is present, consistent with its nonprofit fiscal-sponsorship structure. International positioning has begun via the Global Trust Challenge alongside IEEE SA, OECD AI, UNESCO, and AI Commons, suggesting an intent to extend the fellowship model beyond U.S. state and local government.

Name

Paragon Policy Fellowship

Legal name

Paragon Policy Fellowship

Website

https://paragonfellowship.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Policy Fellowship

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

University-Sponsored International Internships & Co-op Placements (EDAIAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Development Cooperation & Foreign Aid Administration (BPAIAIAG), Structured Gap Year Programs (Multi-Sector & Rotational) (EDAIAGAJ)

Keywords

• Public interest technology
• Tech policy fellowship
• Digital governance services
• Government policy research
• AI policy consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Paragon accepts donations through their website (Mazloweb donation platform). The fellowship operates as a volunteer program with no fees charged to Fellows.
2. Government and Foundation Grants: As a fiscally sponsored organization (by Federation of American Scientists), Paragon likely receives grant funding to support operations and fellowship programs.
3. Fellowship Program (Unpaid): The Summer 2026 Cohort is described as an unpaid volunteer Fellowship that is fully remote. Fellows contribute 8-10 hours per week without compensation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Paragon Policy Fellowship runs a cohort-based fellowship program that places university students and recent graduates into state and local government offices to deliver applied research and project work in public interest technology. Programmatic tracks include AI Governance, Data and Cybersecurity, Digital and Consumer Protection, and Government Modernization, and the organization supplements the core fellowship with a separate Mentorship Program for accepted Fellows.

Product overview

Paragon Policy Fellowship operates as a fellowship program (not a software product) comprising the main Paragon Policy Fellowship fellowship that places university students and recent graduates with government partners, plus an associated Mentorship Program for alumni. The program organizes Fellows into project teams working across five thematic areas: AI Governance, Data and Cybersecurity, Digital Services Innovation, Research and Development, and Broadband Access. All projects produce policy deliverables including literature reviews, analysis frameworks, and recommendations for government agencies. The organization also publishes annual reports and blog content documenting program outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Paragon Policy Fellowship Cohort-based fellowship program that places vetted university students and recent graduates into state and local government offices to deliver applied research projects in public interest technology, including AI Governance, Data and Cybersecurity, Digital and Consumer Protection, and Government Modernization. The fellowship is unpaid for participants and is delivered at no cost to government partners.
• Paragon Mentorship Program Supplemental mentorship offering for accepted Paragon Fellows that provides structured professional development alongside the core fellowship project work.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 350 Fellows have completed 44 digital government projects for 28 governments across 19 states and U.S. territories
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Global Trust ChallengeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2026Global initiative organized by IEEE SA, OECD, UNESCO, and AI Commons that mobilizes institutions to strengthen trust in AI and digital information ecosystems. Paragon is helping create pathways for ideas to be tested in real-world settings, advancing responsible innovation and evidence-based policymaking.
• IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2026IEEE SA organizes the Global Trust Challenge alongside OECD, UNESCO, and AI Commons. This partnership connects Paragon to global standards work in AI governance and digital trust.
• OECD AI Policy ObservatoryflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2026OECD AI is a co-organizer of the Global Trust Challenge, bringing international policy perspective to the collaboration with Paragon.
• UNESCOflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2026UNESCO co-organizes the Global Trust Challenge, providing global governance frameworks to the partnership with Paragon.
• AI CommonsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2026AI Commons co-organizes the Global Trust Challenge, mobilizing communities for AI trust initiatives in partnership with Paragon.
• 28 State and Local GovernmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParagon has partnered with 28 governments across 19 states and U.S. territories on 44 projects ranging from generative AI usage guidelines, deepfake privacy frameworks, accessibility guidelines for translation software, and cybersecurity engagement strategies. Partners include cities and states such as Alexandria VA, Lebanon NH, Tempe AZ, Fort Collins CO, Brownsville TX, Charleston SC, Albuquerque NM, Bismarck ND, U.S. Virgin Islands, Montana, and Georgia.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AI Now Institute: Research institute producing AI policy research and recommendations for governments. Comparable in its applied AI governance focus and policy-deliverable model, though more research-think-tank than fellowship-driven.
• Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation: Georgetown-based center training students and fellows in government digital transformation. Comparable model of placing student talent into state/local government tech and policy projects with published deliverables.
• Code for America: Nonprofit civic technology organization that places technologists with governments through fellowship-style programs (e.g., the Code for America Fellowship). Directly comparable as a nonprofit bridging tech talent with state and local government delivery.
• Data Foundation: Nonprofit advocating for evidence-based and data-driven government policy. Comparable in mission to bridge emerging data/tech talent with government policy needs, with overlapping state-level engagement.
• TechCongress: Places tech policy experts into congressional offices via fellowships. Comparable as a public-interest technology fellowship intermediary placing talent into government roles, although focused on federal rather than state/local levels.

Others

• Federation of American Scientists: Paragon's fiscal sponsor and a science policy nonprofit. Adjacent ecosystem participant providing operational infrastructure and credibility to Paragon; comparable in policy advocacy mission rather than in fellowship delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Institution: Major policy research institution producing substantial AI governance, cybersecurity, and digital government research. Comparable thematic territory but operates at much greater scale and as a traditional think tank rather than a fellowship intermediary.
• New America: Larger think tank with significant public interest technology and digital governance programs (e.g., Open Technology Institute). Comparable thematic focus but broader portfolio and deeper funding base than Paragon.
• Niskanen Center: Policy think tank working on technology regulation, AI policy, and governance. Comparable as a policy advocacy organization producing tech governance research and recommendations for government.
• Harvard Kennedy School Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation: University-based center producing research and convening government leaders on tech and democratic governance. Comparable in producing policy research for state/local governments with a student/fellow engagement model, but at much greater institutional scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paragon-policy-fellowship
• Instagraminstagram.com/paragonfellowship

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Paragon Policy Fellowship